Ukraine has finally passed the LGBTI rights bill necessary for it to move forward with it’s application to join the EU Schengen Zone. After four previous attempts, Ukraine lawmakers have passed a bill that outlaws discrimination against LGBTI people in the workplace. Passing with 234 votes in the 450-seat parliament, Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, has declared this as a “historic” event. The new law bans discrimination in the workplace based on “race, colour, political, religious and other beliefs, sex gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social and foreign origin, age, health, disability or suspected presence of HIV/AIDS, family and property status, family responsibilities, place of residence, or participation in a strike.” Following the ousting of pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych and the student revolution that led to his demise, as demanded by the revolution, Ukraine applied to join the European Schengen zone, a condition of entry however is that the nation passes LGBTI human rights protections. The Schengen Zone is made up of 26 countries in Europe and allows visa free travel for citizens across the zone without needing a passport.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 15th November 2015 - 12:20pm